Joy in Bukowski Square

Charles Bukowski in 1994.

The newly released "Portions from a Wine-Stained Notebook" pulls together as-yet uncollected essays and stories by Charles Bukowski, written from 1944 to 1990. Read more>>> They're celebrating at 7th and Main.

            

A trip through skid row bars, October 18, 1958

Times religion editor Richard Mathison puts on a Salvation Army uniform and makes the rounds of skid row bars soliciting money. The organization instructs its workers: "Remember, this could be you or someone you love very much."

Movie revivals -- Island of Doomed Men

Coming soon to a theater near you...

Above, "Island of Doomed Men," 1940.

Oct. 18, 2008, 7:30 p.m. UCLA Hammer Museum Billy Wilder Theater. Tickets $10. Also showing: "Girls Under 21."

Coming attractions -- Greene and Greene

Reeve window    (Private collection. Photograph courtesy of Sotheby’s, New York) Reeve window watercolor, Pratt House     (Courtesy of Greene and Greene Archives, The Gamble House, University of Southern California) The Huntington Library in San Marino is opening what promises to be a fabulous exhibit on "Arts and Crafts legends" Greene and Greene. "A 'New and Native' Beauty"  opens Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008, and will be on display through Jan. 26, 2009. Inspired by the centennial of the Gamble House in Pasadena, "New and Native" will tell a chronological story over nearly 90 years, featuring 140 items from the collections of the Huntington, the Gamble House, other institutions and private individuals. The objects include 15 pieces of furniture from the 1909 Robert R. Blacker House. The exhibit will also feature photos, drawings and descriptions of the Blacker House, the Gamble House and the Robinson, Tichenor and Culbertson homes. Read more about the Huntington "New and Native" exhibit here>>> The exhibit will travel to the Smithsonian and Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. The book accompanying the exhibit, by the way, is priced at $75.

 

Wrigley Field, October 17, 1958

Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle in "Home Run Derby" at Wrigley Field. By Keith Thursby Times staff writer Found a small but intriguing story about off-season baseball at Wrigley Field. Can you imagine seeing the 1958 Dodgers in the friendly confines of Los Angeles' Wrigley Field instead of the Coliseum? The Times ran a three-paragraph announcement of a game against the Los Angeles Eagles, referred to as "an all-star Negro array." Admission was all of 50 cents and parking was free. Granted, it wasn't the Dodgers but a collection of current players and minor leaguers. But there were enough recognizable names to draw fans. I would have paid 50 cents happily to see a team that included Willie Davis, Don Zimmer, Ron Fairly and Sparky Anderson. Zimmer hit a three-run home run in a 13-1 victory. It was not the Dodgers' only appearance during the off-season at Wrigley Field. In November, there was at least one reference in The Times to Southern California Winter League games at Wrigley Field. The Dodger team was called the Dodger Juniors. Wrigley Field had been without a team since the Pacific Coast League's Angels and Hollywood Stars were sent packing. The ballpark was part of the complicated deal to bring the Dodgers to L.A. and eventually a baseball stadium to Chavez Ravine. Wrigley Field is long gone but lives on in episodes of "Home Run Derby." The production values are prehistoric and the banter between host Mark Scott (who used to broadcast Hollywood Stars games) and the major league stars can be forced, but it's fun getting a glimpse of the old ballpark. Here's an example found on YouTube, with Willie Mays taking on Mickey Mantle.

First commercial jet put in service; movie stars Jack Nicholson, October 17, 1958

This, friends, is a slice of the late 1950s: Mamie Eisenhower and double bills like "Tank Battalion" and "Hell Squad" and Richard Boone in "I Bury the Living." But wait! What's this? Jack Nicholson in "Cry Baby Killer," based on the 1957 cafe holdup in Inglewood.

Movie star mystery photo

Los Angeles Times file photo Our mystery guest has more than 60 credits on imdb, including films and TV. Above, Jeffrey Lynn in "Law of the Tropics."

Los Angeles Times file photo "Carmen" and Jim Beaver have guessed the identity of our mystery man. Here's another photo of him. Jeffrey Lynn as Bartimeus in a 1952 episode of "Family Theatre."

Los Angeles Times file photo Add Don Danard to the list of people who have recognized our mystery man. I think this lady's hat is just incredible. Gregory Moore has guessed our mystery star ... but not his 1939 delightful companion, Mrs. John Rogers of the Salvation Army's Christmas program. Lynn got his start as a Salvation Army Santa Claus and was going to reprise his role.

Los Angeles Times file photo Another photo of our mystery man and his co-star from ... Add Dewey Webb and Alexa Foreman to the people who have recognized our mystery man. This is Lynn with Geraldine Fitzgerald in a 1939 still from "Give Me a Child" or "A Child Is Born." Los Angeles Times file photo Look who I found with our mystery man! Why it's the Daily Mirror's favorite leading lady ... John Payne, Gail Russell and Jeffrey Lynn in "Captain China." Gosh, look what I found! Yes, as everybody has guessed, it's Jeffrey Lynn.

Hollywood memories -- Edie Adams

Television loses one of its greatest artists: Ernie Kovacs.

At left, Ernie Kovacs' death left Edie Adams in financial straits. One way she recouped was by making ads for Muriel Cigars. After all, Kovacs was a famous cigar smoker (although he advertised for Dutch Masters).

Movie revivals -- Dangerous Blondes

Coming soon to a theater near you...

Above, "Dangerous Blondes," 1943.

Oct. 17, 2008, 7:30 p.m. UCLA Hammer Museum Billy Wilder Theater. Tickets $10. Also showing: "The Killer That Stalked New York."

 

Court to hear dispute over Dodger Stadium, October 16, 1958

By Keith Thursby Times staff writer The state Supreme Court will hear arguments over the legal battle to build a baseball stadium for the Dodgers in Chavez Ravine. The Times ran a short Associated Press story on Page 1 that barely scraped the surface of the debate. But you certainly could make the case that by this point, readers either knew what the battle was about or they didn't care. About a week later, the paper ran another short story that was a real head scratcher. Assemblyman Don Anderson, whose district included Chavez Ravine, floated the idea of building a lake if a ballpark wasn't allowed. Anderson presented the City Council an artist's sketch of a lake and recreation area. The story did not include any reaction from members of the council. Maybe they all were speechless. "I feel it imperative that some alternative plan be held in readiness," Anderson said.

 

Officers buy police jobs for $150, October 16, 1938

Above, imagine my surprise to recognize the Coliseum in this panel from "Ella Cinders" by Bill Conselman and Charlie Plumb.  View Larger Map Ruth Etting's ex-husband Martin Snyder kidnaps Etting's husband, Myrl Alderman, forces him to drive to their home at 3000 Lake Hollywood Drive and shoots him during an argument. Investigators discover an elaborate ring selling jobs with the police and fire departments for $150 ($2,186.47 USD 2007) to $1,500. One officer apparently bought a promotion to sergeant for $750 ($10,932.37 USD 2007). Communication from Canton to Hong Kong is cut off as the Japanese army continues its invasion of the South China coast ... And British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, on a fishing trip to Scotland, lands a salmon--after nine days.  C.B. Horrall to head Vice Squad USC beats Washington State, 19-6

Coming attractions -- free Philip Marlowe tour

Brian and Bonnie Olson, authors of "Tailing Philip Marlowe," write that they are giving a tour of downtown landmarks mentioned in the mysteries of Raymond Chandler. Sites include the Bradbury Building, the Oviatt Building and City Hall. The tour is Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008, at 10 a.m. and begins at Caravan Books, 550 S. Grand Ave.  The tour is free. Copies of the book will be available for $10.